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Red Deer Advocate FRIDAY, OCT. 18, 2013
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Redford praised for school projects BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Flooding, the bitumen bubble and a zero per cent increase in operating expenses highlighted Alberta Premier Alison Redford’s speech to Central Albertans. But w h e n HORNER GATHERS asked about the BUDGET INPUT A2 recent release of information showing a steady decrease in the number of patients admitted to the Red Deer Regional Hospital within eight hours, down to 29 per cent in 2013, Redford deferred to Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne. “I am concerned about Red Deer, there is a trend to longer wait times in the hospital,” said Horne. “Alberta Health Services is looking at the reasons. “I can tell you in general the reasons we see first of all are growth as a province. Many of them arrive without access to a family doctor or to another primary health care provider so we do see a lot of people seek treatment in emergency departments.” Horne focused on providing an appropriate option for people in primary health care so they don’t have to visit the emergency department. “That said I can tell you Alberta has one of the best track records in Canada meeting the eight-hour target for admission,” said Horne. “I’ve asked AHS to look at the situation specifically in Red Deer and see what more we can do.” Redford was in Red Deer Thursday talking at the Central Alberta Progressive Conservative Association Premier’s Dinner. She said Albertans wanted her government to change responsibly, get a handle on spending, save money and invest in infrastructure. The best reaction she received from the crowd of more than 300 was when she talked about the new schools coming to Central Alberta. She said the schools in Red Deer will be able to service about 1,100 new students, along with other school construction projects in Penhold, Blackfalds and throughout Central Alberta. Redford said while the province had expected 11,000 kids to join the public school system this year in September, twice that amount, 22,000, enrolled. “We’re going to invest in schools for those kids,” said Redford, adding they have already started work on 50 new schools and 70 school renovations. She said she was happy that the Central Alberta Cancer Centre in Red Deer is set to open later this year, which she said will reduce radiation treatment wait times.
Please see REDFORD on Page A2
WEATHER Sunny. High 14. Low 0.
FORECAST ON A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Ready to put the scare into everyone who dares to enter, volunteer tour guides at the Zed 99 Haunted House will gladly take you through the house of horrors in Red Deer. Every night from now until Halloween, the Haunted House in support of the Boys and Girls Club will be serving up plenty of chills and thrills. See related story on page C1. See related video at www.reddeeradvocate.com.
Trepanier booed for patio stance BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
MAYORAL FORUM
Red Deer’s five mayoral candidates had one more chance to convince voters why they should sit in the mayor’s chair for the next four years. And it was Dennis Trepanier who received one of the largest reactions of the night. A chorus of loud “boos” greeted Trepanier when he said his fix to improving traffic situation across the city was to “stop putting up patios” that block all the traffic because it is a waste of money. Taking it all in stride, Trepanier said, “sometimes you have to be hard when you’re in politics. You have to tell the truth. And some people do not like it.” Trepanier was also taken to task by Veer who pointed out Trepanier got her voting record wrong on the city’s
COUNCIL CANDIDATES QUIZZED A3 mobility study when it came to council. About 450 people turned out to hear the public office hopefuls at an all-candidates forum hosted by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. This was the final public forum that put the mayor hopefuls ––– Cindy Jefferies, William Horn, Chad Mason, Trepanier and Veer –– in the hot seat. The five candidates answered a variety of questions that mostly focused on transportation, safety, parking and the need for a 50-metre pool. Responding to the question about improving traffic across the city, Veer said the key is to start planning road infrastructure at the outset. Both Veer and Jefferies named better traffic light synchronization, traffic circles and exploring other options as essential.
Jefferies said there’s also a component of driver education and awareness of the rules of the road that needs focus. Mason agreed there is not a need to have a light at every intersection. He said the city needs to explore other options, including traffic circles. Horn said the city needs to keep a closer eye on traffic patterns. “There’s places for traffic circles and there’s places that traffic circles will not work,” said Horn. “And there’s places for stop and yield signs.” A question about views on alternative ways to move around the city turned into statements about the controversial bike lane pilot. Jefferies said she does not see a bike lane on every street. She said from the pilot, they see support for to have separated segregated lanes that would provide safety for users aged eight to 80 years old.
Please see FORUM on Page A2
Red Deer marks poverty eradication day BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer joined communities around the world to proclaim Thursday the International Day for Eradicating Poverty. “While we are a community that has a very high income level, at $105,000
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6,A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D4-D7 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . D1-D3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1-B11
per household, and we are a very well educated community and a very young community, we have our issues as well. Around 15 to 18 per cent of our people live in poverty and the majority of those people in poverty are children and they can’t control anything,” Mayor Morris Flewwelling said after reading the proclamation on the steps of City Hall before a crowd of about 50 people.
He said children who grow up in poverty are marginalized and can become bitter and estranged from mainstream society. The toxic stress of poverty on a family can even impact children’s cognitive development. “We simply can’t afford that loss of potential,” Flewwelling said.
Please see POVERTY on Page A2
Red Deer biathlete taking her last shot Zina Kocher will attend her third Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, but has also said that it will be her last.
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*Limited time discount on cash purchase only of a new and unregistered 2013 Passat 3.6L model with 6-speed automatic transmission, to be applied against the final negotiated price. Discount varies by model. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Offer ends October 31, 2013 and is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Model shown: Passat 2.5L Highline, $32,097. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Visit vw.ca or your Volkswagen dealer for deals. “Volkswagen”, the Volkswagen logo, “Das Auto & Design” and “Passat” are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. “Volksfest” is a trademark of Volkswagen AG. © 2013 Volkswagen Canada.
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